Family and individual therapy in Oakland, CA.

All families face challenges, sometimes severe challenges. Families all move through stages, starting with the marriages of young adults and the birth of children. As the children grow from toddlerhood to preschool age, and then move through the years of elementary school, there are multiple issues that cause stress and tension. Teen-agers turn to their peers and away from their parents as a guide for their behavior; this is healthy psychological development. During the years of middle school and high school, however, many children begin to travel down a negative path of disobedience, substance use, and unwise choices. Conflict between teen-agers and their parents or step-parents can become intense during the high school years.

I can help with all of the complex and stressful issues that families face in our modern world. There is an over-reliance on medication in addressing the many issues that confront children, adolescents, and their parents. It is common for parents to be pressured to give their children powerful medications with many side effects in spite of the fact that there are many effective interventions that do not involve medications. Insurance companies are often reluctant to pay for behavioral interventions, but instead want to pay for a medication to address the problems faced by many families with children. It is only ethical to take seriously the goal of doing no harm. Therefore, it is virtually important to first try behavioral interventions for your family’s problems before resorting to medication. I have been working with children, adolescents and their families since 1985, and I have many techniques in my tool box to help you address the issues that you are facing with your young children or with your teenagers.

As our parents and grandparents age, there are a whole new set of challenges that arise. Often the middle generation gets stuck in the position of needing to meet the needs of both their children and their aging parents. When a career is factored in, the members of the sandwich generation have no time or energy to meet their own needs. The result can be stress related illnesses that are physical, emotional, or a combination of the two. I can help you address the complex and difficult issues that arise in the years in which we are helping our parents and grandparents in their declining years.

Please call me to discuss the stressors that are facing your family. It is important to address these issues before they reach a crisis point. Start the healing journey today. I work with both the immediate family of children and parents or step-parents, and with the wider family that includes grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Let me put my decades of experience to work to help you and your family.

Find Us On:

Find Us On Googleplaces!

Elizabeth Preston, Ph.D.

Call Now!
5104825344

Business Address:
1305 Franklin St Suite 502
Oakland, CA 94612

Business Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sat 9:00am-1:00pm